District News

July 21, 2015

July 16, 2015

Michael Gui, son of Gaojun and Mingjun Gui, and a senior at Marshfield High School, earned a top composite score of 36 on a recent ACT test. Nationally, while the actual number of students earning a composite score of 36 varies from year to year, on average, less than one-tenth of 1 percent of students who take the ACT earns the top score. Among test takers in the high school graduating class of 2014, only 1,407 of nearly 1.85 million students earned a composite score of 36.
The ACT consists of tests in English, mathematics, reading and science. Each test is scored on a scale of 1-36, and a student's composite score is the average of the four test scores. Some students also take ACT’s optional Writing Test, but the score for that test is reported separately and is not included within the ACT composite score.
In a letter recognizing this exceptional achievement, ACT CEO Jon Whitmore said, “While test scores are just one of the many criteria that most colleges consider when making admission decisions, your exceptional ACT composite score should prove helpful as you pursue your education and career goals.”
ACT test scores are accepted by all major U.S. colleges. Exceptional scores of 36 provide colleges with evidence of student readiness for the academic rigors that lie ahead.

July 14, 2015

Andy Hastreiter, a student at Marshfield High School, took first place at the SkillsUSA National Competition in Louisville, KY. Andy competed against about 40 other high school students in the Electronic Technology competion. Congratulations Andy!

July 13, 2015

Attached are links to the District Curriculum Review Cycle and the Board Approved K-6 Social Studies Curriculum.
What is Curriculum?
Curriculum is what teachers teach and instruction is how they do it. Curriculum defines a set of learning targets with guided resources and topics to be discussed on a given subject matter. Curriculum is reviewed within a curriculum review cycle. A new “Curriculum Review Guide” was developed in the 2014-2015 school year which places all curriculum programs in one of four phases at all times. During the curriculum review process, curriculum teams made up of teachers and administrators create learning targets and a pacing guide, which are aligned to state standards. A classroom curriculum designed for each academic program allows for consistency among grade level teams and continuity across K-12 in the social studies curriculum.
What is Instruction?
Instruction is how each teacher chooses to implement and teach the students the approved curriculum. Teachers have different teaching styles just as students have different learning styles. Therefore, it is up to each individual teacher to find out the best method for each student to learn in his or her classroom.
K-6 Social Studies Curriculum
Although much of the content has not changed from the previous K-6 Social Studies Curriculum, the format has changed to be consistent with other subject areas. This format includes Learning Targets that guide what teachers teach and a Scope and Sequence timeline with a list of possible resources to aide in instruction.
Many elementary Social Studies Learning Targets are incorporated into other subject areas throughout the day as well. A few examples of this include incorporating Math into Economics as students learn to identify and count United States currency and Citizenship into Guidance as students demonstrate the characteristics of being a good citizen within the classroom, school and community.
Former Social Studies Curriculum 2015 Approved Social Studies Curriculum
K-6 Curriculum K-6 Curriculum
Activities Learning Targets
Units Outline Scope and Sequence Timeline
Reviewed by Administrators and Teachers Reviewed by Administrators and Teachers